paulvallandigham
Passed On
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2006
- Messages
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The only way I can think to mix different sizes of shot so they won't blow your patterns would be to put the smaller shot in the barrel first, and then the larger shot next. The larger shot, having more mass per pellet, retail velocity better in the air, while the smaller shot loses velocity faster. If you mix the shot together, the pattern gets blown as the small shot slows and is bumped into by the larger shot. They veer off like pool balls when hit by a cue ball. If you put the larger sized shot in the barrel first, and then the smaller shot, the larger shot will want to push through the smaller shot, making a hole in the pattern, and scattering the smaller shot wide, opening up the pattern.
What will work in your gun you will have to determine at the patterning boards.
If you want to see this principle at work, without going to the range, buy some round balloons, and then blow them up so one is larger in diameter than a couple of the others. Now, in the " dead " air of your house, throw the balloons by holding all three or four of them in your fingers as fast as you can; then a little slower; and then a little more slowly;, until you get down to a shove. There will be an optimum velocity you can throw all the balloons where they will stay together, and less or more velocity will only spread them out further. The same principle works with shot pellets traveling in the air. You can find a load that gives a certain velocity for #4 shot that gives you the tightest group; and you can find a similar load for #6 shot. But when you put them together, there will need to be a reduction in the load for both of them to maximize the pattern of the duplex load.
What will work in your gun you will have to determine at the patterning boards.
If you want to see this principle at work, without going to the range, buy some round balloons, and then blow them up so one is larger in diameter than a couple of the others. Now, in the " dead " air of your house, throw the balloons by holding all three or four of them in your fingers as fast as you can; then a little slower; and then a little more slowly;, until you get down to a shove. There will be an optimum velocity you can throw all the balloons where they will stay together, and less or more velocity will only spread them out further. The same principle works with shot pellets traveling in the air. You can find a load that gives a certain velocity for #4 shot that gives you the tightest group; and you can find a similar load for #6 shot. But when you put them together, there will need to be a reduction in the load for both of them to maximize the pattern of the duplex load.
